Fort Myers Shores to Tampa is 128 miles and takes about 2 hours 23 minutes via I 75 and Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving from the Southwest coast up towards the Tampa Bay area. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that's easily manageable as a same-day trip. You'll find it a convenient option for getting between these two popular Florida destinations without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
64.1 miles from Fort Myers Shores, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
113.3 mi
2h 2m
Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
7.8 mi
9m
Palm Beach Boulevard
3.4 mi
5m
East Kennedy Boulevard
0.4 mi
1m
River Ridge Boulevard
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 113.3 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Myers Shores, FL and Tampa, FL.
1
Start on River Ridge Boulevard
0.3 mi·1 min·River Ridge Boulevard
2
At end of road, turn right onto FL 80
3.4 mi·5 min·Palm Beach Boulevard
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
4
Merge onto I 75
113 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
2.4 mi·2 min
Exit 256Toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West: Tampa, Port of TampaUse the slight right lane.
6
Continue on FL 618 Toll
7.8 mi·9 min·Lee Roy Selmon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 8Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - EastUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto US 41 Business; FL 60
0.4 mi·1 min·East Kennedy Boulevard
9
Arrive at destination
FL 60
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 23 minute duration, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize your daylight and allow for flexibility. The longest stretch without a break is 113.3 miles on I 75, so plan a quick stop before or during that segment if needed. With a fuel cost estimated around $20, you won't need to worry too much about budget. Since this is a shorter trip, you have the advantage of not needing to rush and can easily adjust your departure time based on your morning's activities in Fort Myers Shores.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 64.1 miles from Fort Myers Shores, FL, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.1 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tampa, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Myers Shores, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Myers Shores, FL
This is one driving day of about 128.3 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Fort Myers Shores, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 113.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 127.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|FL 80 / Palm Beach Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto FL 80 / Palm Beach Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 75 North: Tampa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
5
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in|I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
117.5 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Take the exit toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West: Tampa, Port of Tampa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 256
Toward FL 618 Toll West, Selmon Expressway West...
8
127.7 mi into trip|~2h 21m in
Take the exit toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward FL 60: Kennedy Boulevard, Downtown - Eas...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.42 one way
$40.84 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$22.22
$44.43
premium
$4.72
$23.86
$47.71
diesel
$5.61
$28.33
$56.65
Estimated Tolls: $0.78
Selmon Expressway
(7.8 mi)$0.78
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.5
0
$13.47
$6.16
Efficient EV
32.1
0
$11.23
$5.13
EV Truck/SUV
51.3
0
$17.96
$8.21
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Fort Myers Shores, FL
Morning
in Fort Myers Shores on Tuesday
Local time
8:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tampa, FL
Morning
in Tampa on Tuesday
Local time
8:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 23m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
De Soto National Memorial
National Memorial
In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 88.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 94% of the route utilizing major roads like I 75. You'll experience 113.3 miles on I 75 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a high concentration of exits and merging traffic as you approach the Tampa area, particularly on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.3 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Lee Roy Selmon Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near FL 80 / Palm Beach Boulevard.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 23m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (FL 80 / Palm Beach Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 4.1 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fort Myers Shores, FL and Tampa, FL, road signs point toward Selmon Expressway West: Tampa and Port Of Tampa.
The longest stretch is about 113.3 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.78 in tolls one way, starting with Selmon Expressway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (FL 80 / Palm Beach Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 4.1 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tampa, FL before heading back.
